Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Hijas de Esparta by Claire Heywood

24 reviews

everyotherpageorso's review against another edition

sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

I honestly enjoyed most of the novel, but it seemed like all middle and no end. The book itself isn’t so much of a retelling as it is a prequel, which was disappointing. It included two of my pet peeves, as well, being 1.) casting Helen as perpetually self-involved and 2.) the dreaded miscommunication trope. To be fair, I feel as though Heywood does a great job expressing her struggles but she faces almost no consequences and therefore never really grows (in my opinion). Klytemnestra was the strongest character by far. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Misogyny, Slavery, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Rape, Violence, and Pregnancy

taylorrudolph's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this followed helen & klytmenestra’s lives perfectly through the trojan war. i loved getting to see helen’s point of view as it is barely ever told. i learned of kyltmenestra’s story in a “thousand ships” by natalie haynes. i loved this story even though i have read countless retellings of the trojan war, any perspective never gets old 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Slavery

mmatti300's review against another edition

adventurous sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book honestly was a little disappointing. While I really enjoyed having klytemnestras perspective, the rest of the book felt very dry and exactly the same as every other Trojan war retelling. Maybe I feel this way simply because I have read quite a few, including the YA series Nobody’s Princess and Nobody’s prize that we’re similarly from Helens perspective. The writing style was also rather lackluster though there were a few stellar descriptions that fully encapsulated the vitriol and disgusting actions of the men. Since this is a debut, I can only hope that the strength of descriptions that Heywood showed glimmers of will be clearer in future books. A good book, interesting additions of Klytemnestra but overall more cookie cutter than I would have liked. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Blood

Moderate: Slavery

Minor: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Cannibalism, and Pregnancy

rileepickle's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I really enjoyed this novel, especially towards the end. I think the biggest issue I had with it was that it shifted from focusing on Klytemnestra to focusing on Helen in the latter parts of the novel. I found Klytemnestra's story much more interesting than Helen's, although Helen's was intriguing as well. I didn't like the way this novel ended, and had more questions about some of the plot points that weren't answered. Overall though, a fun and emotional read with lots of jarring scenes and important themes. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment